Northern dusky salamander
Desmognathus fuscus
Conservation Status:
State Status: Apparently Secure
Global Assessment: Least Concern
Photographed by Dylan Benoit in Woodbridge
Description
Northern dusky salamanders are three to five inches long. Their coloration can be red, brown, gray, or olive with a cream or white underside. This species' tail is brighter than the body. Dark patterns mottle its body, and a lighter stripe runs down its back. They have a dark line running from the corner of the mouth to the eyes. Their hindlimbs are much longer and larger than the forelimbs, and their tails are flattened laterally.
Habitat
This species can be found around clear, shallow bodies of water, most
commonly streams or rivers. They prefer undisturbed areas with forest cover, and also may live in places near springs that have moist soil.
Behavior
Dusky salamanders spend a majority of their time hiding, whether it be in burrows, moss, logs, rocks, or under debris on the forest floor. These hiding places generally are located within the vicinity of a stream or other body of water. This species eats based on the availability of food, causing their prey to cover a wide range of invertebrates. Some of them are arthropods, mollusks,
and worms. Larvae eat small crustaceans and the larvae of insects. Some of their predators include rodents, fish, snakes, birds, and larger salamanders. When threatened, these salamanders may jump using their strong legs in an attempt to escape. They also will sometimes detach their tail to get away from an attacker. They breed either in the spring or fall, but generally lay eggs in the summer. These are attached to the underside of rocks that are near water. Ten to thirty eggs are laid, and the female will remain to protect them until they hatch into aquatic larvae. These salamanders can live for as long as fifteen years.
Range
Present
